Thill-coupling.



Patented Nov. 20, I900.

J. G. PARSONS.

THILL COUPLING.

(Applicafiaion filed Jan. 22, 1900.)

(No Model.)

. lllllllfli W/ TNE SSE S V, E N M n A UNi'Tnn States PATEN Fries.

JOHN G. PARSONS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of ietters Patent No. 662,200, dated November20, 1900.

Application filed JanuaryZZ, 1900. oerial No. 2,297. \No model.)

To ail 2072,0722 it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN G. PARSONS, a citizen of the United States,residingat Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of thill-couplings; and theObjects of my invention are to provide an im proved vehicle shaft andaxle coupling of superior construction and arrangement of parts, to soconstruct the same as to obviate any tendency toward the parts workingloose and rattling from wear, to admit of the same being readilyconnected with the shafts, and to otherwise provide a desirableconstruction of self-adjusting coupling device of this class. Theseobjecis I accomplish in the manner illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im;proved coupling, showing the same disconnected from the axle; and Fig. 2is a central vertical section of the same with the axle connectedtherewith.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a thill-coupling bar or body 1,the rearwardlyextending and horizontal portion of which terminates in anupturned hook projection 2. In constructing the forward or head portion3 0f the body 1 I form the same with an upturned curved jaw termination4 of hook form, as shown, and on the upper side of said bar 1, in rearof its head, I preferably form upwardly-projecting transverse shoulders5, and between said shoulder portions and the hook termination 2 Ipreferably provide an upwardly-projecting spur or pointed projection 6.The head portion 3 of the bar 1 extends through an opening in and hasfulcrumed thereto a clamping member 7. This clamping member,which is ofasubstantially S form, has its forwardly-extending portion above thehead 3 shaped to form a downwardly-curved hook or jaw 8, and itsrearwardly-extending lower portion is connected with one end of aspring-strip 9, the outer end 'of which has hinged therein a link 10.

11 represents a shaft-iron which is preferably of the form indicated inthe drawings and consists in the bar portion 11 which is adapted to berigidly connected with the shaft, and in the yoke-shaped or bifurcatedrear end portion 12, the arms of the latter being connected by atransverse bolt 13. As indicated at 14:, the bolt 13 is preferablyprovided with a sleeve of rubber.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 20f the drawings, the jointed connectionbetween the coupling-body 1 and the shaft-iron is effected by theclamping engagement of the jaws 4: and 8 with the collar 14 of the bolt13. insure a desirable frictional engagement of these parts, the link ofthe spring-strip 9 is pulled upward and engaged, as shown in thedrawings, with the hook termination 2 of the bar 1. This engagement ofsaid hook and link results in exerting a spring or adjustable pressureof the jaw 8 upon the sleeve of the bolt 13.

As indicated more clearly in Fig. 2, the axle is adapted to beartransversely upon the bar 1 and abut against the shoulder portions 5thereof, the axle being preferably provided on its under side with arecess 6 to receive the spur (5. The axle is held in its connection withthe bar 1 through the medium of a suitable clip 16, which embraces saidaxle and the arms of which pass downward through Vertical openings 17insaid bar.

From the construction which I have described it will readily be seenthat a simple and effective connection or coupling of a vehicle shaftand axle may readily be produced and that the spring tension or bearingof the jaw 8 upon the sleeve of the bolt 13 must serve at all times tocompensate for any wear on said bolt or its sleeve, thereby preventingany tendency toward said jointedly-connected parts working loose andrattling. The method of connecting the shaft and axle, which consists insimply inserting the bolt 13 between the jaws 8 and a and hooking thelink 10 into engagement with the hook 2, is exceedingly simple and canbe effected without unnecessary labor or loss of time.

In case it should be desired to connect the axle coupling body with anunbifurcated shaft-iron, such as has been commonly used, it is obviousthat the connection of the shaft iron and bolt 13 might be made with anextension of the latter and at one side of the In order to jaws. It willalso be obseryed that instead of employing the jaws 8 and 4 inconnection with the bar 1 the same might be employed in connection witha shaft-iron and adapted to engage said bar 1.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tbill-coupling, the combination with the body 1 having a jaw 4formed therewith and an axle adapted to be secured to said body, of aclamping member or lever 7 fulcrumed to said body 1 and having a jawportion 8 formed therewith, and a spring-strip connected with one end ofsaid clamping member and adapted to be detachably connected with saidbody 1, substantially as specified.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a body 1 having a hooktermination 2 and a jaw termination 4 and means for connecting an axlewith said body, of a clamping member 7 havinga fnlcrumed connection withthe head of said body and having a forwardly-extending jaw portion, aspring-strip connected with said clamping member and a link jointedlyconnected with said spring-strip and adapted to engage said hooktermination of the body 1, substantially as specified.

3. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a body 1 having a jawtermination 4E and hook termination 2, and means for connecting an axlewith said body, of a clamping member 7 fulcrnmed to said body 1 andhaving a jaw portion'S formed therewith,a spring-strip connected withsaid clamping member and means for detachably connecting said sprinstrip with the body] and a shaft-iron, and a transverse bolt carriedthereby adapted to be embraced between said jaws, snbstantially asspecified.

JOHN G. PARSONS.

In presence of C. C. SHEPHERD, A. L. PHELPS.

